Individual Differences

Question 1

What are the big 5 personality traits? What do you use to remember them?

Answer 1

• Openness to experience
• Conscientiousness
• Extraversion
• Agreeableness
• Neuroticism (emotional instability)

Remember: OCEAN

Question 2

What type of traits do people who are open have (5)

Answer 2

Curious, original, intellectual, creative and open to new ideas

Question 3

What type of traits do people who are conscientious have (5)

Answer 3

Organised, systematic, punctual, achievement oriented and dependable

Question 4

What type of traits do people who are extraverted have (4)

Answer 4

outgoing, talkative, sociable and enjoys being in social situations

Question 5

What type of traits do people who are agreeable have (6)

Answer 5

Affable, tolerant, sensitive, trusting, kind and warm

Question 6

What type of traits do people who are neurotic have (5)

Answer 6

Anxious, irritable, temperamental and moody

Question 7

What sort of health impact does having a conscientious personality have (4)

Answer 7

Longevity (adds 7.5 years)
Better health behaviours across lifespan)
Higher medical adherence and engagement

Question 8

What sort of health impact does having a neurotic personality have (6)

Answer 8

Increased reporting of somatic symptoms e.g. pain
Higher rates of mental health disorders
Higher mortality rates e.g. in cardiovascular disease
Health behaviour:
Higher rates of healthcare usage
Less adherence to healthy behaviours
Higher rate of health harming behaviours

Question 9

Definition of IQ?

Answer 9

intelligence quotient (mental age/chronological age x 100, where a score of 100 is average).

Question 10

Limitations of IQ?

Answer 10

averages all domains of intelligence, does not consider each separately

Question 11

Definition of crystallised intelligence? How does it change with age?

Answer 11

ability to apply previously acquired knowledge to current problems
• Improves with age

Question 12

Definition of fluid intelligence? How does it change with age?

Answer 12

ability to deal with novel problem-solving situations for which personal experiences does not provide a solution
• Declines with age

Question 13

How much of IQ is because of genetics? Is there an intelligence gene?

Answer 13

account for 1/2 to 2/3 of variation, no single intelligence gene

Question 14

How much of IQ is because of environmental factors? Is there an intelligence gene?

Answer 14

accounts for 1/3 to 1/2 of variation in IQ

Question 15

What is Baron Cohen’s Empathising/Systematising Theory? What is the gender difference of this?

Answer 15

• Empathising: able to infer thoughts or feelings of another person and produce an appropriate reaction
• Systematising: drive to analyse or construct any kind of system (i.e. understanding the rules that govern a system, in order to predict how that system will behave)
• Gender Difference: females are more empathetic; males are more systematising; autism is considered a model of an ‘extremely male brain’